FB's Palmer Williams Named a Semifinalist for Ray Guy Award
11/14/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
Award presented to the nation’s top collegiate punter
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Baylor football junior punter Palmer Williams has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Ray Guy Award, as announced Friday by the Augusta Sports Council.
The award honors the nation's top collegiate punter. Williams is one of 10 punters named a semifinalist, selected from a field of 92 nominated candidates.
In 2025, Williams has punted 20 times for a total of 947 yards. His 47.35 yards-per-punt average ranks second among Ray Guy Award semifinalists and would rank second in BU program history behind only Williams' outstanding 2024 season (49.30 yards). Only nine of Williams' punts have been returned for a total of 28 yards this year, giving him a net punting average of 44.95 yards and helping Baylor rank second nationally in the metric. Williams has landed nine punts inside the 20-yard line, had four punts fair caught and allowed just one touchback.
Nine of Williams' punts this season have surpassed 50 yards, including a season-long 59-yarder in Week Three against Samford. He has booted at least two punts of more than 50 yards in four games this year. His 37 career 50+-yard punts ranks him seventh in BU's all-time history.
Williams is one of four American semifinalists for the 2025 Ray Guy Award, while the other six hail from Australia.
Candidates were evaluated by the Ray Guy Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to their team. Particular emphasis was placed on net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line and percentage of punts not returned.
The winner of the Ray Guy Award must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on his team's success.
A national body of FBS sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists to be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
2025 RAY GUY AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Brett Thorson, Georgia
Daniel Hughes, New Mexico
Dante Atton, Temple
Evan Crenshaw, Troy
Jackson Ross, Tennessee
James Rendell, Notre Dame
Luke Freer, Air Force
Nick Haberer, Vanderbilt
Palmer Williams, Baylor
Tyler Perkins, Iowa State
The award honors the nation's top collegiate punter. Williams is one of 10 punters named a semifinalist, selected from a field of 92 nominated candidates.
In 2025, Williams has punted 20 times for a total of 947 yards. His 47.35 yards-per-punt average ranks second among Ray Guy Award semifinalists and would rank second in BU program history behind only Williams' outstanding 2024 season (49.30 yards). Only nine of Williams' punts have been returned for a total of 28 yards this year, giving him a net punting average of 44.95 yards and helping Baylor rank second nationally in the metric. Williams has landed nine punts inside the 20-yard line, had four punts fair caught and allowed just one touchback.
Nine of Williams' punts this season have surpassed 50 yards, including a season-long 59-yarder in Week Three against Samford. He has booted at least two punts of more than 50 yards in four games this year. His 37 career 50+-yard punts ranks him seventh in BU's all-time history.
Williams is one of four American semifinalists for the 2025 Ray Guy Award, while the other six hail from Australia.
Candidates were evaluated by the Ray Guy Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to their team. Particular emphasis was placed on net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line and percentage of punts not returned.
The winner of the Ray Guy Award must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on his team's success.
A national body of FBS sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists to be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
2025 RAY GUY AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Brett Thorson, Georgia
Daniel Hughes, New Mexico
Dante Atton, Temple
Evan Crenshaw, Troy
Jackson Ross, Tennessee
James Rendell, Notre Dame
Luke Freer, Air Force
Nick Haberer, Vanderbilt
Palmer Williams, Baylor
Tyler Perkins, Iowa State
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